The Truth About Piano Learning: Age Is Just a Number
Traditionally, it has been believed in the realm of piano learning that a person must possess a certain innate ability that comes from years of practice during childhood in order to become skilled at playing the piano.
This idea has given rise to various related beliefs, including the notion that adults are not capable of achieving proficiency in piano playing, that beginning piano lessons after the age of eight is too late, and that if one did not establish a strong foundation during their youth, it is now too late to start practising.
There is a common belief in piano learning that having a skill developed from childhood practice is necessary to become proficient in playing the piano.
This belief has resulted in various sub-beliefs such as adults being unable to learn to play well, beginning piano lessons after the age of eight being too late, and not being able to make progress if you did not establish a good foundation in your youth.
This concept has even led to the idea that if you lack this childhood ability, you are not worthy to play the piano.
This type of statement is dangerous and lacks objectivity. While it is partially true that having childhood practice can be helpful, it does not apply to most situations.
We should be cautious of statements that seem correct but are not applicable in many circumstances when it comes to learning, life, and work.
Latecomers to piano learning can actually play very skillfully.
However, it’s essential to establish what it means to “play well” to have a meaningful conversation.
If we mean playing at the level of a virtuoso like Lang Lang, then it’s valid to say that starting early can be advantageous. But, if we mean playing at a level where people might assume one has a music school background, age is not the decisive factor; personal effort plays a more significant role.
Numerous instances of adult piano learners achieving success can be found on the internet.
A French pianist named Lucas Debargue is a prime example. He started his piano education at the age of 17 and even competed in the 2015 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. Videos of his performances are available online, and it is impossible to tell that he only started playing at 17.
If this case seems extraordinary, there are also many examples of our own piano students who started their lessons as adults, including mothers, office workers, and retired individuals. Through their own hard work, they have demonstrated that even ordinary adults can become proficient in playing the piano.
What does “Ability acquired from childhood practice” mean and what benefits does it offer?
The crux of the concept of “Ability acquired from childhood practice” is the word “childhood,” which refers to age.
Thus, when we talk about this ability, we are essentially examining how age affects piano learning.
When we assess the benefits of “Ability acquired from childhood practice,” we are exploring what skills are exclusive to children and cannot be learned by adults.
Although this may appear to be unscientific because if children can do it, why can’t adults, there is one skill that is challenging to acquire after the age of 6, and that is “perfect pitch.”
To have absolute pitch means being able to recognize every sound and pitch you hear in everyday life and play it on a piano keyboard without any reference. This skill is undoubtedly beneficial in music learning.
However, in other areas, children may not be superior to adults. The abilities children acquire through training can often be learned by adults in a shorter time and with greater efficiency. This is where adults have the absolute advantage.
The absolute advantages of adults
Adults have several advantages over children, including their ability to learn more efficiently and comprehensively, their skills in managing time, and their subjective experiences.
Adults typically have the ability to grasp and understand the material covered in a year’s worth of children’s lessons in just ten lessons, and they can comprehend it more thoroughly than children.
If you ask an adult and a 5 or 6-year-old child how long it would take them to learn a new piece, the adult will likely learn it much faster.
Adults can also quickly grasp the more complex music theory concepts in just a few months, whereas children need more practical experience to understand the same concepts, making their learning process slower.
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Additionally, adults are more capable of identifying and addressing their own weaknesses in playing and finding personalized solutions.
Consequently, a prevalent issue among many of my adult pupils is,
- “Teacher, my fingers feel weak/cramped/fatigued after prolonged playing.
- Is my posture incorrect? How can I fix it?”
- Even prospective students inquiring about my course may ask, “Teacher, do you emphasize finger technique/hand shape in your lessons?
- Is there specific training for these aspects? I want to establish a strong foundation.”
Adults are proactive in identifying and resolving problems that may arise during their piano learning journey, which can result in significant progress.
It is rare to find a young child who anticipates a problem and seeks a solution in advance, such as asking their teacher for help with their hand shape.
Adults have a clear sense of purpose and motivation, which drives them to work harder. The perceived advantages of those who possess “Ability acquired from childhood practice” are mainly due to the time difference between starting at a young age versus starting later in life.
The misconception of “Ability acquired from childhood practice”: Survivorship bias
Those who overly prioritize “Abilities acquired from childhood practice” tend to fall prey to survivorship bias.
The exceptional piano prodigies who have succeeded due to their early start represent only a tiny fraction of the whole group.
However, when videos of their performances are widely shared online, it creates a false impression that only those who begin learning the piano at a young age can excel in playing.
The fact is, how many of the hundreds of thousands or millions of new piano prodigies each year can really rely on “Ability acquired from childhood practice” to rise to the top and show their skills?
This is survivorship bias: we often make wrong judgments based on the selected information and mistakenly believe that this is a common result.
So why do we see so many people who started playing the piano from a young age playing so well?
The reason for the perceived low success rate of adults learning the piano is survivorship bias.
People who started playing the piano at a young age and are not skilled simply do not display their lack of skill. In contrast, adults may have limited time to practice the piano due to work and other responsibilities, which can hinder their progress.
However, if adults can prioritize practice time, they can achieve a high level of piano performance.
If you are planning to learn the piano, it is important to understand that many people are not aware of this fact: if you are willing to learn with dedication, have ample time to practice regularly, and receive guidance from an excellent teacher who can help you plan your learning path, you can achieve a very high level of proficiency in piano playing even as an adult.
Recommendation piano lesson: Pianoforall
It’s a brilliant lesson that is super suitable for adults to learn piano online. Whether you want to become a professional or just want to play it for fun. This is the right course for you!
Enjoying the piano like I've never — bless you for your insight into teaching — it works!! Please accept my highest respect for possibly the best tutorial of all time — I am 74 and have seen a few. You have made me a happy slave to my keyboard and sound!
Derek, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, England, UKSince I was little I have always wanted to play. I’m now 38 years old, have never played, and with your program I was able to go through the books and videos step by step and now I’m purchasing piano books to play songs to enjoy. I have to say that my husband was very skeptical but you have made him a true believer in your teaching program!
Soony Williams, California, USA
Here is the link for the lesson: Pianoforall
Other blog related to piano:
“The Secret to Memorizing Sheet Music: It’s All in the Sound”
“4 Big Reasons Online Piano Lessons Can Save You Time and Money”
